PASSINGS: Howard B. Schow

CaptionHarry Carey Jr.

Los Angeles Times

The son of silent-film western star Harry Carey Sr., Carey Jr. was a venerable character actor who was believed to be the last surviving member of director John Ford's legendary western stock company. His career spanned more than 50 years and included such Ford classics as "She Wore a Yellow...

The son of silent-film western star Harry Carey Sr., Carey Jr. was a venerable character actor who was believed to be the last surviving member of director John Ford's legendary western stock company. His career spanned more than 50 years and included such Ford classics as "She Wore a Yellow... (Los Angeles Times)

The onetime headmistress of an elite girls' school fatally shot Dr. Herman Tarnower, her lover and the creator of the famous "Scarsdale Diet." The killing generated front-page headlines and national debates about whether she was a feminist martyr or vengeful murderer. She was 89. Full obituary ...

The onetime headmistress of an elite girls' school fatally shot Dr. Herman Tarnower, her lover and the creator of the famous "Scarsdale Diet." The killing generated front-page headlines and national debates about whether she was a feminist martyr or vengeful murderer. She was 89. Full obituary ... (Ron Frehm / Associated Press)

Often called "Stormin' Norman" for his legendary temper, the former four-star general is best known as the commander of 1991's Operation Desert Storm, which quickly drove an invading Iraq out of Kuwait. He reminded America what it was like to win a war and defined the nation's renewed sense of...

Often called "Stormin' Norman" for his legendary temper, the former four-star general is best known as the commander of 1991's Operation Desert Storm, which quickly drove an invading Iraq out of Kuwait. He reminded America what it was like to win a war and defined the nation's renewed sense of... (David Longstreath / Associated Press)

The two-time Oscar nominee was dubbed the king of the character actors for his skill in playing everything from a Nazi colonel to the pope. His prolific work in films and television included supporting roles in the classic comedy "Tootsie" and the TV sitcom "Evening Shade." He was 89. Full...

The two-time Oscar nominee was dubbed the king of the character actors for his skill in playing everything from a Nazi colonel to the pope. His prolific work in films and television included supporting roles in the classic comedy "Tootsie" and the TV sitcom "Evening Shade." He was 89. Full... (Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)

The three-time Emmy winner portrayed the slovenly sportswriter Oscar Madison opposite Tony Randall on "The Odd Couple" and later played a crime-solving medical examiner on "Quincy, M.E." He was 90. Full obituaryNotable deaths of 2012

The three-time Emmy winner portrayed the slovenly sportswriter Oscar Madison opposite Tony Randall on "The Odd Couple" and later played a crime-solving medical examiner on "Quincy, M.E." He was 90. Full obituaryNotable deaths of 2012 (Los Angeles Times)

Howard B. Schow, 84, a well-regarded manager of Vanguard mutual funds such as the $30.1-billion Vanguard Primecap, died of natural causes April 8 at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, said Joel P. Fried, president of Pasadena-based Primecap Management Co.

A San Marino resident who was co-founder and chairman emeritus of Primecap Management, Schow — rhymes with "now" — managed portions of five funds for Vanguard Group Inc., the world's biggest mutual fund company.

Howard Bernard Schow was born July 28, 1927, and grew up on New York's Long Island. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he attended Williams College and Harvard Business School. He started his investing career with $6,000 earned as a settlement after a serious car accident, according to Charles D. Ellis' 2004 book, "Capital: The Story of Long-Term Investment Excellence."

Schow moved to Los Angeles in 1962 to work at Capital Research & Management Co., the oldest unit of Capital Group Cos., one of the largest U.S. investment companies. There, he rose to chairman.

Under his guidance, the firm's Amcap Fund returned 12.7% annually, compounded, from its inception in 1967, Forbes reported in its 1994 profile. That fund's recipe for success was mixing large companies with fast-growing, innovative small ones, then holding shares for years, Forbes said.

In 1983, Schow left Capital Research to open his own firm, landing the contract with Vanguard to run its new Primecap fund.